Stratford Fire Department Seeks Help In Supporting One Of Its Own

Jason Carrafiello, a Stratford firefighter, died unexpectedly on Dec. 26. He was 38.Photo Credit: Courtesy of Stratford Fire DepartmentThe Stratford Fire Department will play Westport in a benefit hockey game on Saturday, April 1, to the support the family of colleague Jason Carrafiello, who died unexpectedly on Dec. 26. He was 38.Photo Credit: Courtesy of Stratford Fire Department

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STRATFORD, Conn. — Stratford firefighters will challenge their brethren from Westport in a charity hockey game to raise funds for a member of their department who died unexpectedly in December.

Jason Carrafiello, 38,
died the day after Christmas.
He is survived by his wife and two children, and had been a member of the fire department for 12 years. "Jason Carrafiello was an amazing person who deeply loved his family, the fire department and being a basketball coach. Losing him at such a young age is a huge loss to all of us and the community at large," the fire department wrote on its GoFundMe page for the hockey benefit game. Mike Apatwow of the Stratford Fire Department created the page.

The firefighters will take on Westport on Saturday, April 1, at Shelton Twin Rinks. Proceeds from the game and the GoFundMe page will help support Carrafiello's family.

The passing of Carrafiello weighed heavily on the department. In December, the wife of Stratford firefighter Gerald Casey told Daily Voice the entire firehouse was in mourning.

"The morning after Christmas would have been Jay's shift, but he had been out of work for the month of December due to surgery after tearing his Achilles [tendon]," Melissa said. "The department is like a big family. These guys had to work on their loved one that day — and lost him," she said.

Carafiello was a lifetime Stratford resident. A
fundraising page
created for him to support the family in January exceeded its $10,000 goal.